TUNING

GT300’s New Era: Unveiling Tactics in Japan’s Premier Race

posted at：2024.04.28

TEXT: AMW PHOTO: GTA／動画撮影・編集：平岡寿道（HIRAOKA Toshimichi）

Many teams will continue their structures from 2023

The 2024 season of SUPER GT, Japan’s premier GT car race, started at Okayama International Circuit in Okayama Prefecture on 13-14 April 2024. While three manufacturers, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, compete in the GT500 class, the GT300 class has become a kind of cross-fighting competition with import car brands mixed in. Here we introduce the machines competing in the GT300 class. In this fourth volume, we bring you Car No. 50 to Car No. 60!

The 2023 champion enters the race with a new duo

Car 50, the ANEST IWATA Racing RC F GT3, continues the tag team of Igor Omura Fraga and Yuga Furutani. Fraga is a former world champion in the driving simulator “Gran Turismo” and has been competing in Super Formula Lights and SUPER GT in Japan since 2023. He is sure to aim for even higher positions.

The defending champion, No. 52 Green Brave GR Supra GT, will continue with Hiroki Yoshida, but his partner for the 2023 season, Kohta Kawaai, has been replaced by Seita Nonaka. Nonaka has competed in the GT World Challenge Asia, where he finished second in the ranking. He will be defending his title as a tag team with Yoshida.

In Car 56, the Realize Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R, Teppei Natori steps up to the GT500 class. João Paulo de Oliveira’s new partner is Daiki Sasaki, who also competed in the GT500 class with KONDO RACING. Oliveira and Sasaki have worked together in the GT500 class in 2017, so the combination should be perfect.

Car 60, Syntium LMcorsa GR Supra GT, will continue with the team combination of Daiki Yoshimoto and Shunsuke Kono. Veteran driver Yoshimoto and experienced driver Kono will be aiming for the annual championship title in the GR Supra, which is now in the process of maturing.

Some teams are bringing in new cars and drivers, while others are continuing with last season’s structure. The key will be how much of a gap they can pull away from the teams with new structures in the early stages. The opening round in Okayama is one not to be missed.